THE GATE, THE WAY & THE DESTINATION
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)
FIRST, START THE JOURNEY
Option 1: The Wide Gate
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Romans 1:21–23 (ESV)
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Option 2: The Narrow Gate
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (ESV)
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus… 1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV)
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SECOND, WALK THE PATH
Option 1: The Wide Way
“And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.’” Jeremiah 21:8 (ESV)
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:6 (ESV)
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. Romans 1:24–25 (ESV)
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Option 2: The Narrow Way
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
Proverbs 12:28 (ESV)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women… Acts 22:4 (ESV)
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THIRD, ENJOY THE DESTINATION
Option 1: Destination Destruction
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 (ESV)
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Option 2: Destination Life
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Revelation 22:14 (ESV)
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FINALLY, PICK YOUR COMPANIONS
Option 1: The Many
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Romans 1:29–31 (ESV)
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Option 2: The Few
And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:23–24 (ESV)
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV)
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Which option will you take? And who will you invite?